Happy Earth Day!
What are you doing to help out the Earth? Do you recycle? How are you conserving water? How are you trying to save electric? If anyone reading this has a family like mine - We still have a ways to go on understanding the long term effects of our resource usage... I am constantly going around turning off lights, TVs, video games, closing doors (although that has lessen since we now have a cat and the kids are aware that she will escape if the door is left open) and turning off water that is dripping (sometimes small hands can't quite turn it all off)
Here are some things to consider when thinking about saving energy and resources...
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/sc4.html has the following information... There is no scientific definition of the volume of a faucet drip, but after measuring a number of kitchen and bathroom sink faucets, the volume seems to be between 1/5th and 1/3rd of a milliliter (mL). Drips from bathroom tubs come in a bit more, though, at about 1/2 mL. So, for our calculations below (numbers are rounded), we are going to use 1/4 mL as the volume of a faucet drip. So, by these drip estimates:
One gallon: 15,140 drips
One liter: 4,000 drips
Looking at it this way, it seems like that drop of water down the drain is pretty insignificant.
Log on to their website and use the water calculator to see how much water could be wasted my a few leaky faucets, and to think that people in most cities are paying for water and sewage - That is a lot of wasted money!
http://www.csgnetwork.com/elecenergycalcs.html is a general electric Energy Cost calculator that will give you a visual on how much money you are using on kitchen appliances, laundry, personal care items and light bulbs. Many items you may not even think about their use.What items do you have at home that are using electric just from having them plugged in that you never use? How many hours is your computer turned on and not being used? All of these things use electricity that someone, somewhere is paying for, and even if that someone is not you, you need to consider this and help to conserve by making sure lights are turned off when you leave a room, TV are only on when being watched, and computers are not sitting idly by with no one using them.
Consider doing some of these things as well to help keep things out of the landfill...
1. Purchase cloth towels for use in the kitchen, rather than paper towels. Keep your hand towel separate from your dish towel so that you do not cross contaminate things from the dirt on your hands
2. OPT-IN for paperless billing - Get all of your statements sent to you via e-mail - This saves paper and keeps your personal information from being taken from your mailbox!
3. Paper or Plastic? Always opt for paper if you are not using the re-usable grocery bags. Plastic is very difficult to recycle (especially those plastic grocery bags)
4. If you live close enough to work to walk, then do so - Save gas and air pollution while getting much needed exercise! We don't walk nearly enough in this country, and if it is iwthin a 5 mnute drive, you can walk there is little time as well!
5. Replace all the bulbs in your house with energy savings one. Energy savings bulbs will save you upto 70% in utility bills and at the same time uses less electricity.
6. Set your thermostat in your house in the winter at 68-69 and in the summer 75 or more. It does not need to feel like an icebox in your house - And set the temperature higher when you are not going to be home in the summer - There is no reason to be cooling a house for people who are not even home, plus you are saving yourself money by keeping it warmer while you are away in the summer, or cooler in the winter - No need to heat when you are not home either.
Remember - we only have one Earth and if we continue to used and abuse her, we will have nothing to replace her!
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